Biomarkers for the diagnosis and/or prediction of susceptibility to mental and neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract

Provided herein are, inter alia, methods for predicting the susceptibility of a subject to a mental or neurodegenerative disorder, the method comprising obtaining one or more biological samples from the subject; determining the levels of one or more biomarkers in the sample, wherein the biomarkers are selected from pyrroles, histamine, methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) activity, homocysteine, copper and zinc; and comparing the level(s) of the biomarker(s) determined in (b) with the level(s) of said biomarker(s) from one or more control samples, wherein abnormal levels of the one or more biomarkers in the sample(s) from the subject compared to the one or more control samples is predictive of susceptibility of the subject to a mental or neurodegenerative disorder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the identification of novel biomarkers and biomarker combinations for the diagnosis of, and prediction of susceptibility to, mental and neurodegenerative disorders and to methods for the diagnosis of, and prediction of susceptibility to, such disorders employing the biomarkers and biomarker combinations. The invention also relates to methods for predicting likely severity and disability associated with mental and neurodegenerative disorders, methods for determining appropriate treatment regimes for sufferers of such disorders as well as to methods for evaluating and monitoring the efficacy and progress of treatment regimes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many mental health conditions have their onset between the ages of 18 and 24 years of age and many may appear even earlier in youth. The incidence of mental illness and the impacts of this on society appear to be increasing. Similarly, the burden caused by neurodegenerati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]By way of example, in accordance with an embodiment of the first and second aspect an elevated histamine level may be indicative of enhanced distractibility and hypoactivity or symptoms associated therewith, or susceptibility to.

[0038]Disease control may be improved by adjusting the timing, frequency and / or intensity of biomarker testing and / or adjusting the identity, timing and / or intensity of a treatment regime to thereby normalise the levels of one or more of the biomarkers.

Problems solved by technology

However in view of the complexity, and often asymptomatic nature, of many mental and neurodegenerative disorders the reliance on symptomatic evaluation and personal history renders diagnosis difficult and often inaccurate.

It can be challenging to distinguish between many disorders given common clinical presentation and, moreover, sufferers may remain asymptomatic for years between episodes.

Further, a single occurrence of a positive family history of adult mental illness has not of itself been generally considered a sufficient indicator for close pre-emptive follow up of children in families so-affected by mental illness.

Added to the difficulty of deciding which children or young adults should receive close preventative follow-up, has been difficulty with psychiatric classification systems themselves.

Images